When the Shissar enslaved the many sentient races on the unexplored continent they bred the Iksar into a race of soldiers. During the Age of Exile when the Combine landed on Kunark, the Iksar helped to enslave them under the Shissar. The Iksar wanted freedom from their Shissar overlords so they joined the Combine to fight back the Shissar. Venril Sathir rose to prominence within the Iksar, and soon certain factions within the Iksar became determined to possess the old knowledge of the Combine. They intend to use the Combine for their selfish purposes, but the Combine refused to yield. Once again, they were forced to flee. Along with some Iksar who were sympathetic to the Combine's cause, they made the decision to return and retake their homeland of Kunark. A large amount of Iksar did stay with the Combine and sailed to Antonica with them, beginning the Age of Heroes.

In the course of the events which ended the Keldarain Era, the Nor'I was gravely wounded. In its throes of pain, it still emanated life... but that life was touched by pain and darkness. Nasty things emerged from the depths of the world, and there was much suffering.

Over time, the Nor'I healed, and the pattern of life changed once more. Though the old races were gone, new ones emerged, and the Iksar were among them. It could be said that the Iksar were driven by a hint of that lingering darkness.[1]